Hot-fill container base structure
View Patent ↗The invention provides a base structure of a container. The base structure includes a support heel that defines any number of touch points for contact with a horizontal surface. The support heel includes inner and outer portions that merge with the container's corrugated support flute and sidewall, respectively. The base structure also includes a fin that forms the zipper pinch and extends transverse to and intersects corrugations of the corrugated support flute.
1. A base structure for a container having a sidewall, the base structure comprising:
a support heel defining a touch point for contact with a horizontal surface, the support heel having an outer portion and an inner portion, the outer portion merging with the container sidewall;
a corrugated support flute having corrugations surrounded by the support heel and merging with the inner portion of the support heel;
a solid fin extending transverse to and intersecting at least one of the corrugations of the corrugated support flute;
wherein the corrugations extend in a first direction and a center of each corrugation defines a midpoint of the base structure in the first direction, and the fin extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and substantially through the center of each corrugation;
wherein the fin further comprises:
a beam having first and second sides, the second side being opposite and substantially parallel to the first side; and
a plurality of protrusions alternatively positioned on the first and second sides of the beam; and
wherein at least one pair of adjacent alternatively positioned protrusions overlap.
2. The base structure according to claim 1 , wherein the fin further comprises:
a zigzag curve extending in a longitudinal direction; and
a beam extending in the longitudinal direction and intersecting the zigzag curve.
3. The base structure according to claim 1 , wherein the inner portion of the support heel is an upwardly inclined surface.
4. The base structure according to claim 1 , wherein the support heel provides a circumferential line of support.
5. The base structure according to claim 1 , wherein the support heel provides an annular line of support.
6. The base structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a flat surface that merges with the corrugations and the inner portion of the support heel.
7. The base structure according to claim 1 , wherein the support heel defines four touch points.
8. A base structure according to claim 7 , wherein the fin further comprises:
a zigzag curve extending in a longitudinal direction; and
a beam extending in the longitudinal direction and intersecting the zigzag curve.
9. The base structure according to claim 7 , wherein the corrugations extend in a latitudinal direction and a center of each corrugation defines a midpoint of the base structure in the latitudinal direction, and the fin extends in a longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to the latitudinal direction and substantially through the center of each corrugation.
10. The base structure according to claim 7 , wherein the inner portion of the support heel is an upwardly inclined surface.
11. A base structure according to claim 7 , wherein the support heel is substantially rectangular.
12. The base structure according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a flat surface that merges with the corrugations and the inner portion of the support heel.
13. The base structure according to claim 1 , wherein the corrugated support flute remains vertically higher than the support heel.
14. The base structure according to claim 1 , wherein the fin remains vertically higher than the support heel.
15. A base structure for a container having a sidewall, the base structure comprising:
a support heel defining a touch point for contact with a horizontal surface, the support heel merging with the container sidewall;
a plurality of ribs, each rib having two ends that merge with the support heel;
a solid fin extending transverse to and intersecting at least one of the ribs,
wherein the ribs extend in a first direction and a center of each rib defines a midpoint of the base structure in the first direction, and the fin extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and substantially through the center of each rib;
wherein the fin comprises a zigzag curve extending in a longitudinal direction; and
a beam extending in the longitudinal direction and intersecting the zigzag curve.
16. The base structure according to claim 15 , wherein the fin further comprises:
the beam having first and second sides, the second side being opposite and substantially parallel to the first side; and
a plurality of protrusions alternatively positioned on the first and second sides of the beam.
17. The base structure according to claim 16 , wherein at least one pair of adjacent alternatively positioned protrusions overlap.
18. The base structure according to claim 15 , wherein the support heel defines four touch points.
19. The base structure according to claim 15 , further comprising:
a flat surface that merges with the corrugations and the inner portion of the support heel.
20. The base structure according to claim 15 , wherein the corrugated support flute remains vertically higher than the support heel.
21. The base structure according to claim 15 , wherein the fin remains vertically higher than the support heel.
22. A container comprising:
a neck portion defining an opening;
a base structure; and
a sidewall that merges with the base structure and the neck portion at opposite ends of the container,
wherein the base structure has:
a support heel defining a touch point for contact with a horizontal surface, the support heel having an outer portion and an inner portion, the outer portion merging with the container sidewall;
a corrugated support flute having corrugations surrounded by the support heel and merging with the inner portion of the support heel; and
a solid fin extending transverse to and intersecting at least one of the corrugations of the support flute;
wherein the fin comprises a beam having first and second sides, the second side being opposite and substantially parallel to the first side; and
a plurality of protrusions alternatively positioned on the first and second sides of the beam, wherein at least one set of adjacent protrusions overlap.
23. The base structure according to claim 22 , wherein the corrugated support flute remains vertically higher than the support heel.
24. The base structure according to claim 23 , wherein the fin remains vertically higher than the support heel.